Basically I like cheap fast stable video cards. I usually buy chipsets that have been out for a while, at least a year, so as to minimize driver problems with 3D programs. I find this is a much cheaper way of getting a decent video card than paying the premium for a FireGL or Quadro.

I already ordered the 6670, and have been eyeing the 550 for about 9 months waiting for it to come down in price.

The 480 seems like a good card, more expensive but twice as much horsepower, maybe more.

I'm using the cards for Computer aided Design & 3D Animation. Their performance in a video game is a good indicator of their performance when you are in a CAD or animation program, in terms of zooming/ panning/ & rotating the view ... assuming the drivers hold up.

I'm curious what results you guys are getting from these 3 chipsets, the 6670, 550, and 480.

As it stands, the 4850 will go back in its original home, a Core2Quad.

I will try the 6670 and the 550 in the 3930K system and a Xeon 5645 system I just bought. Not sure which card will go with which. The Xeon is a hex-core but only consumes about 80 watts. I am installing a photovoltaic solar system and would like to have one of my hex-core systems be a lower-power consumption system, I might put the 6670 in that system.